Mop structure



Aug. l, 1944. F. A. TRINDL. ETAL 2,354,969

MOP STRUCTURE Filed sept. 11, 1941 Patented Aug. l, 1944 MGP STRUCTURE Frank A. Trindl and GatherineO. Trindl,

Appueeuen september 11, 1941, ser-1eme. 410,352

s chime. (ol. 1s-244) -This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and is more particularly directed to absorbent mops having the mopping portion thereof forme of elastic cellular material.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of our co-pending application entitled Mop and mop squeezer, U. S. Serial No. 313,352, filed January 11, 1940, now Patent Number 2,290,217, July 21, 1942. t

We have found that a mop comprising a substantially rigid back and a mass of absorbent elastic cellular material is more convenient to handle and satisfactory in its operation than the old-fashioned types of mops formed of rags or cords. In particular, we have found that the recently developed synthetic material marketed under the name cellulose sponge" has superior ability to remove moisture from a surface such as a floor and will withstand a remarkable amount oi' wear.

The mop construction herein disclosed is preferably shaped in a manner in which it can be conveniently used with apparatus for expressing moisture therefrom.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a highly satisfactory form of .mop using elastic cellular material as the absorbent portion thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mop construction of such shape as to cooperate with a moisture expressing device carried on the rim of a pail.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mop construction having a compressible absorbent mopping portion which is carried by a head portion formed of material of greater rigidity than the mopping portion.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mop construction having a compressible and slitted absorbent mopping portion whereby a large absorbent area is exposed to the surface being mopped with the slits facilitating ilow of water to the absorbent portion during mopping operations and facilitating dow of water out of the absorbent portion when compressed or squeezed.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a mop construction having a substantially rigid back and a compressible abi Isorbent mopping portion with a flexible hinged connection therebetween.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for assembling a back and a compressible absorbent mopping por tion.

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view in elevation showing the relation between the mop construction of the present invention and a moisture-expressing device mcunted on the rim of a pail;

Figure 2 is an end view of one form of a mop device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an end view illustrating the mop of this invention when seen in operation;

Figure 4 is a bottom view in elevation of the mop construction illustrated in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of a modied form of mop construction with the sponge shown in transverse, intermediate cross section;

Figure 6 is a bottom view similar to Figure 4 and illustrating the form of mop shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view as seen when taken substantially along the off-set planes indicated by the broken line VII- VII of Figure 8 and illustrating a portion of the flexible backing between the broken absorbent portion and the substantially rigid back of the mop; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section as seen when taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line VIII-VIII of Figure 1. l

As best shown in Figure l, the mop construction I0 of the present invention is adapted for use with a moisture expressing device II. This moisture expressing device generally comprises a resilient perforated sheet metal trough I2 removably supported upon the rim I3 of a pail or bucket I4 by means of four hooks I5, I6, I1

and I8.

It will be noted that the trough Il, as viewed from the top, has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, that is, it has two sides parallel but 5o of unequal length with its two ends extending at equal oblique angles to the sides. One side of the trough Il, between the hooks I5 and I1. is therefore considerably shorter than the other side, between the hooks I6 and I8, which enmop construction having a substantially rigid Il ables the trough to be suspended from the rim of e pm u to one sides: the center une lthereoi'. as shown in Figure 1.

The .mop construction Il is shaped, when'i' viewed from the top, in much the same as the trough Ii for the purposeofproviding v theI greatest length possible in cooperation with .Y

andfor' easeinoedterin'g thmop moisture. expressing device between the :riepen u fram which thetmush This construction provides' a mop back having portion 25 shaped in plan viewas illustrated in l i nally alom the sponge mopping portion in a man- The end portions 2| and `n extend f Figure 1. lAn angularly lextending opening'tl (rieure 1)' iis-provided in .thepaea-onliieed pcrnon u eentreuly or and'immediately admirent a longitudinalv edge thereof for-receivingvone end beV inserted in the'substantially rigid head por- -of a` handle 21. It is preferred that the handle ner similar to that illustrated in Figure 4f or they mayterminate in spaced relation fromthe v ends of the' sponge portion in.a=manneras illustrated in Figure 6. Thus, at each end of the Sponge, there. is .left a -continuous unslit portion :nntingtogetherthe portions separa` y y ted by the The sponge portions-2l and Il, illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, are each connected to the substantially rigid portion 25 in a manner as illustrated in Figures 'l and 8. As best shown in Figures 2, `3and 5, the head portion 25 is provided with spaced longitudinally extending slots 21 and 2,2. These slots are preferably formed parallel to vthel longitudinal sides Il and 20 and are spaced inwardly therefrom. It will be obvious, of course, from the following description that the slots may have various spaced arrangements relative to each other and to the adjacent edges of the head portion. Likewise, the slots may be formed transversely of the head portion.

tion adjacent -the short sidel I9 in order that. u

the longest edge of the absorbent mopping portion be the most forward edge during the mopping operations, However, the handle receiving aperture may be placed adjacent the long edge Il if desired.

In this form of construction, the absorbent Y mopping portion is formed of-a plurality 'of sepaformed of an elastic cellular material such as a sponge. The slits 33 between theseparate sec.'-

The netted face ofthe heed po'r'uen v2s is The rod member l0 of any flexible material such as metal,

Vwood lorthe like, is inserted into each of the slots Il and to hold the inlaid backing material 35 therein. As shown in Figure 8, a staple j vIl is then forced into the head portion 25.in a

...raftesections 2l, 3l, 3| andi. 'The'absorbent portion 2l of the mop construction is preferably` .'.it'isto be understood that any similar suitable fastening means such as nails, tacks or the like also facilitates the flow of water out of the..

mop when the mop is being squeezed.

-While the absorbent portion 28 is illustrated as sloping outwardly from the rigid head portion '125; it is 'to be understood that the sides thereof may extend in any angular relation from th ends of the separate sections 29, 35,' 5| and 32 in contact with a surface to be mopped are compressed in operation with the slits v33 there water into the absorbent sections. By providing separate sections in the absorbent portion 28, a greater liquid absorbing area is provided during operation of the mop.

It will be noted in Figure 4 that the bottom of the absorbent sponge portion provides an outline similar to the shape in plan view of the substantially rigid head portion 25.

Another form of mop construction is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in which the absorbent portion 35 of the mop secured to the head portion 25 is formed of a single piece of material but is slit in a manner differently from that illustrated in Figure 2. 'I'he absorbent portion 35 is provided with a plurality of slits 36 extending up from the bottom thereof and terminating in spaced relation from the head 25. 'I'he slits 36 function in substantially the same manner as the slits 3l in the mop construction shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It desired, the slits 35 may extend longitudi- 751 y between being opened to facilitate the flow of'v :position bridging the slot for the purpose of the .backing material andthe rod with the outer edgeoffthe rod lying in flush relation with the louter :surface of the 'backing material. This relationi of elements is also provided in slot l5.

While itis preferred that a staple Il be used,

'nected to the head portion 25, is covered with a layer of cementitious material I2 and the sponge portion is.. then applied to the fabric covered face on the'head portion for connection thereto as the cementitious material dries. Obviously, the cementitiousmaterial used must be flexible after itfhas hardened and must be waterproof and unaffected by hot or cold liquids as either may be used in mopping surfaces.

It is to be noted in Figure 7 that the rods 40 terminate in spaced relation from the ends of the mop construction. As the sponge portion is connected to the head portion 25 only along the rods lil, which are spaced from all of the edges of the head portion, the connections act as hinges between the sponge portion and the head portion. These connections permit a limited hnging action along the sides and ends of the sponge portion relative to the head portion as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. Consequently, the sponge portion is not apt to tear away from the back or head portion of the mop when subjected to heavy pressure and the life span of the mop is thereby increased.

While the head portion 25 is described as being substantially rigid, it being preferably formed of wood or a plastic material, it is t0 be understood that a head portion formed of any semirigid material such as dense rubber or like material having similar characteristics may be used equally as well. Furthermore, the angularity of the handle 21 with respect to the head portion 25 may be varied depending upon the angle at which the mop may be most conveniently used.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated, it will, of course, be understood that the invention should not be limited thereto,.fas many modifications may be made and, therefore, it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A mop construction comprising an elongate head portion having longitudinal slots in a face thereof, said slots being spaced from each other and from the longitudinal edges of said head portion, a iiexible backing member seated on said face and.v in said slots, a flexible rod member seated on said backing member in each of said slots, said rod members terminating short of the ends of said head portion, means spaced longitudinally along each of said rod members for holding them and said backing member on said head portion, and a compressible absorbing mopping portion carried by said backing member for limited hinging action around and on the ends of said rod members, said flexible backing and said mopping portion being of such a size as to be disposed within the confines of the edges of the side of the head portion to which they are secured.

2. A mop construction comprising an elongate head portion having longitudinal slots in a face thereof, said slots being spaced from eachother and from the longitudinal edges of said head portion, said head portion being adapted for receiving a handle member for operating said mop, a fabric backing strip seated on said face and in said slots, a flexible rod seated on said backing strip in each of said slots, said rods terminating short -of the ends of said head portion, staple members embedded in said head portion and being spaced longitudinally. along each of said rod members in straddling relation thereto for holding said rods and backing strip on said head portion, a sponge mopping portion, and means for connecting said sponge portion to said fabric strip whereby said sponge portion is mounted for limited hinging action around and on the ends of said rod members. j

3. A mop construction adapted for use with a moisture-expressing device of conforming configuration, comprising an elongate head portion having opposed longitudinal sides one of which is shorter than the other and-slots in a face thereof parallel with said longitudinal sides and spaced from each other and from said longitudinal sides, a. fabric backing strip seated on said face and in said slots, a exible rod seated on said backing strip in each of said slots, said rods terminating in spaced relation from the ends of said head portion, staple members embedded in said head portion and being spaced longitudinally along each of said rod members in straddling relation thereto for holding said rods and said backing strip on said head portion, a sponge mopping portion divided into a plurality of sections by slits extending upwardly from the under surface thereof, and liquid resistant cementing means connecting said mopping portion to said backing strip whereby said mopping portion is mounted for limited hinging action around and on the ends of said rod members.

` FRANK A. TRINDL CATHERINE o. 'ranma 

